Simplex pneumatic distributor in monobloc with the fluid control and cleaning unit



Nov. 27, 19

. G. ALFIERI I 3, SIMPLEX PNEUMATIC DISTRIBUTOR IN MONOBLOC WITH THE FLUID CONTROL AND CLEANING UNIT Filed May 18, 1960 t I as 8 To All? 6 COMPRESSOR) 7 5 4 30 H I E T ,4 29 3? 22 30 1/ 23,

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6' l5 27 2/ 25 2 lgEkvonz smwons United. States Patent The present invention deals with a new method of assembly of simplex pneumatic distributors in which the fluid feed control and cleaning unit are associated with the operating elements.

Distributing apparatuses, whether single section or multi section, assembled as one signle unit with the cleaning unit, are commonly known. The compressed air distributor, and the cleaning control unit are built separately, but are later assembled together in such manner as to form a monobloc apparatus.

The 'aim of the present invention is to create a new monobloc apparatus of smaller overall dimensions, in

which the cleaning of'the air supplied by a compressor is greatly improved.

The invention is characterised by the fact that the simplex distributor is located in the interior of the cleaning chamber of the cleaning control unit; everything being arranged in such a manner that the assembly practically permits the elimination of the distributor space, as well as a more eflicient cooling of the air to be cleaned, obtained both by reason of the intimate contact of the distributor mass with the cleaning unit as well as by the effect of the feed and exhaust flows of the operating elements. I

Other particulars and characteristics will be described a ments etc.

which is givenonly as an example toshow a preferred if:

vention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing in vertical section of the apparatus. 7

FIG. 2 shows the cleaning chamberacross line IIII.

The simplex distributor is substantially composed of an operating rod 1, connected to a brake pedal, a piston 2, controlled by said rod by means of a control spring 3, and an exhaust valve 4 and inlet valve 5 to connect the operating elements with the atmosphere or the installation air reservoir tank.

According to the invention, the distributor is located in the interior of the cleaning chamber comprised of a ring shaped cylindrical chamber 6, having its internal wall 7 functioning as the cylinder in which the distributor piston 2 slides, while the external wall 8, by means of port 9, is connected to an air compressor not shown in the drawing.

Chamber 6 is connected to the distributor feed chamber 12 by means of a duct 10 and associated retaining valve 11.

The bottom of the cleaning chamber is stepped, and in correspondence with the highest part the duct which rises within the chamber and reaches near the cover is fixed, in such a manner that the air flowing into the feed chamber 12 is derived from the top of chamber 6, where it has already been cleaned.

Chamber 1'2 communicates directly with safety valve 13, with the visual low pressure indicator 14, and by means of connections 15 and 16 respectively with the installation air reservoir tank and with the control and operating apparatuses.

Said chamber also communicates with the operating elements by means of inlet valve 5, port hole 17, and connection 18. Valve 5 is held in its seat by the action of embodiment of the apparatus conforming to the in- 3,065,998 Patented Nov. '27, 1962 control deveice 21 which controls the exhaust valve 22 by means of the idling servo cnotrol 23.

Control device 21 is comprised of a cylinder 24 in which tightly slides a piston 25, subjected at one side to the air pressure of chamber 12, and at the other side to the action of a calibrated spring 26. When the action of the compressed air is greater than that of the opposing spring, the piston is displaced, until by means of pipe 27, chamber 12 is put into communication with chamber 28 of the servo control 23.

The servo control comprises a piston 29, subjected to the compressed air of chamber 28, and in turn acts on exhaust valve 22, normally held closed by the action of spring 30.

The port hole with exhaust valve 22, is located in the lowest point of the inclined bottom of cleaning chamber 6 in such a manner that during the idling phase condensation and deposited impurities in the cleaning unit are more easily discharged. By means of said valve 22, the cleaning chamber is put into contact with the outer atmosphere by means of outlet 31 located in the wall of the-- spring 30 of piston 29 are installed in the same Wall 33 of feed chamber 12.

Under working conditions, air arriving from the compressor enters the cleaning chamber 6 through inlet 9, and flows through duct 10, retaining valve 11, and chamber 12 to feed the tank, control apparatuses, operating ele- When the maximum calibrated pressure is reached in the tank and therefore in chamber 12, the compressed air of chamber 12, through delivery pipe 27, acts on piston 29, which, uriderthe action of the. pneumatic pressure, moves. toward the, right overcoming the opposing pressure of the spring, and opens valve 22; be-

cause of this the air from thecompressor is pumped directly into the atmosphere through inlet 9, chambero, valve 22 and discharge 31. When, following the withdrawal of air, the pressure in chamber 12 becomes lowered, the control device 21 deactivates the servo control 23 which is put into contact with the atmosphere through delivery pipe 27, and breather pipe 34 located in the bottom of cylinder 24. Spring 36 puts the exhaust valve back on its seat and in this manner, the compressed air tank reloading cycle is reestablished.

Obviously, air withdrawals occur during the operation of the distributor, the functioning of which is commonly known to all those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. That is to say, action on push rod 1, determines the closure of exhaust valve 4, and the opening of inlet valve 5, with subsequent feeding of chamber 35 and the operating elements connected inlS.

With the release of push rod 1, the repose position is regained with discharge of the compressed air of the operating elements, through chamber 35, valve 4, and the interior of piston 2 and the outlet exhaust 36. Ohviously the distributor can be fitted with all the normal signalling devices, with stop light switch 37, etc. It should be noted that the result is an improved cleaning of the air, due to the effect of the cooling efiiciency, deriving from the fact that the mass of the distributor is in intimate contact with the cleaning unit, and also because air coming from the compressor passes over the internal air flow in the distributor during the feeding and exhaust phases of the operating elements.

I claim:

1. A simplex pneumatic distributor and a fluid cleaning control and cieaning unit formed in monobloc, said distributor being located in the interior of the cleaning chamber of said cleaning control and cleaning unit, said distributor being in contact with said cleaning unit so that the air to be cleaned is efiiciently cooled.

2. A simplex pneumatic distributor and a fluid cleaning control and cleaning units as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning chamber of said cleaning control and cleaning unit is cylindrically ring-shaped, the inner wall of the cleaning chamber constituting the longitudinal wall of the distributor within which the distributor piston slides, and the outer wall of the cleaning chamber is in communication with the compressor of the apparatus.

3. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a feed chamber of the distributor is connected to the cleaning chamber by means of a duct fixed to the bottom of the cleaning chamber with its inlet port at the highest part of the chamber and controlled by an associated retaining valve.

4. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cleaning chamber has a stepped bottom and a valve is located in the lowest part of said chamber for discharge of air to outer atmosphere.

5. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distributor comprises a feed chamber, a safety valve, a low pressure visual indicator, an air reservoir tank, control and service apparatus, a pressure control device, an inlet valve and direct communications between said feed chamber and each of said safety valve, said low pressure visual indicator, said air reservoir tank, said control and service apparatus, said pressure control device, and said inlet valve.

6. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed chamber of said distributor is formed with a lip rim, a spring seated upon the lip rim, and an inlet valve for said chamber biased by said spring towards closed position.

7. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pressure control device comprises a cylinder extending outwardly of said compressed air feed chamber, a pressure control piston tightly slidable in said cylinder, said piston being subjected at one end thereof to the pressure in said feed chamber and at the opposite end thereof to the action of a calibrated spring, a servo control piston, a spring-biased normally closed atmospheric discharge valve adapted to be opened by said piston, and a pipe connecting said pressure control piston and said servo control piston, whereby at predetermined pressure within said compressed air feed chamber said pressure control piston is moved to actuate said servo control piston to open the atmospheric discharge valve.

8. A simplex pneumatic distributor and fluid cleaning control and cleaning unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said atmospheric discharge valve is the discharge valve in the bottom of the cleaning unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,498,498 Leech et al. Feb. 21, 1950 M44 4.4 4444. 4A A! 

